Head to head: 2012 Dodge Charger R/T

The 2012 Dodge Charger R/T uses no less than 168 bright LEDs in the brake lights.

PHOTO: Liz Leggett, Special to The Gazette

By Kevin Mio Jim Leggett, The Gazette

Originally published: February 6, 2012

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New Charger looks good, feels good

By Kevin Mio

The Dodge Charger nameplate has been around for decades, starting in 1966, but it has also disappeared from showrooms twice already.

The original model was produced from 1966 to 1978, and then was discontinued until a second version of the car debuted in 1983. That version would only last until 1987 and the name was again mothballed, this time until it was resurrected a second time in 2006.

Dodge, and its Fiat-controlled parent company, hopes the model doesn’t suffer the same fate any time soon. A recent test of the 2012 Charger R/T Road/Track package leads me to believe that it’s on the right path to a longer life than its predecessors.

The 2012 version is already the second generation of the new Charger, having undergone a redesign for the 2011 model year.

The Charger has a starting price of $29,495 (all base prices include $1,400 destination charge and $100 federal A/C excise tax) for the SE model, with the top-of-the-line SRT8 version beginning at $47,495.

Our tester for the week was a 2012 Dodge Charger R/T Road/Track trim, which starts at $39,495.

Optional equipment on the tester pushed the final price to $45,145 before the tax man takes his pound of flesh.

The list of extras include a $500 charge for the three-coat pearl exterior red paint and a $500 sound group that adds a 506-watt amplifier, nine speakers and a subwoofer.

There’s also a $750 driver confidence group that includes blind spot detection, rear-view camera and rain sensing wipers, among other items. Adaptive cruise control adds $900 and the attractive 20-inch aluminum wheels add another $500. The Super Track Pak, which includes electronic stability control, performance steering, sport suspension, upgraded anti-lock brakes and other items costs $500.

That’s all on top of the standard list of gear that includes a lot of safety equipment, starting with active head restraints, multi-stage front airbags, side-curtain front and rear airbags, brake assist, rain brake support, automatic headlights and keyless entry.

Design: During the remake for 2011, the Charger received an entirely new body and one of the most noticeable changes had to be the new front end and hood design, which really give the Charger a presence on the streets.

But designers also made sure the back end was just as eye-catching thanks to a very attractive new tail light design, with the lights extending across the entire width of the rear.

The nicely sculpted front door panels also add to the Charger’s sporty look and the exterior design is capped by a rear spoiler on the trunk lid.

The interior design, especially on the R/T Road/Track tester, features a lot of black, but in a car like the Charger, I didn’t really notice because I was focused on enjoying the drive.

The design and layout of the cabin is actually quite nice. The seats were comfortable and held me firmly in place even in sharp turns, and I found the driving position to be excellent.

The centre stack is dominated by a large screen that serves multiple purposes, and three knobs below it control fan speeds and radio settings.

Performance: There are three available engines with the Charger, depending on which trim level you choose.

Either choice has more than enough power, ranging from 292 horsepower to an over-the-top 470.

The SE, SXT and SXT Plus models are fitted with a Pentastar 3.6-litre V6 producing the 292 horses and 260 foot-pounds of torque.

At the other end of the spectrum is a powerful 6.4-litre SRT8 HEMI V8 that puts 470 horsepower and 470 foot-pounds of torque at the driver’s disposal. Really, those numbers are better suited for a race track than a Montreal street.

Between the two is the engine in the R/T tester, a 5.7-litre HEMI V8 with 370 horsepower and 395 foot-pounds of torque.

Both HEMI engines use Chrysler’s FuelSaver Multi-Displacement Technology that senses how much power is needed and efficiently and smoothly shifts between eight and four cylinders.

With 370 horsepower at my disposal in the tester, I really can’t imagine the need for the larger HEMI, unless you intend to race your car on a track.

Power output from the engine was smooth across the board and the transmission did a good job – even if I would have liked to see a six- or eight-speed gearbox.

The rear-wheel-drive Charger, with the five-speed automatic, has a fuel consumption rating of 13.5 litres per 100 kilometres in the city and 8.0 L/100 km on the highway.

Driving/utility: With those good looks and excellent power, driving around in the Charger for a few days was most enjoyable, especially since the snow stayed away and made it that much more fun.

Acceleration off the line thanks to the HEMI was great, and it inspired a feeling of confidence behind the wheel knowing I had everything I needed right under my foot.

The Charger hugged the road in tight corners and had a sporty feel to it when push came to shove. But it was also quite good at the more mundane tasks of an everyday city car and the ride wasn’t overly jarring despite Montreal’s rough roads.

To top it off, the Charger has a cavernous trunk, meaning it’s also a useable vehicle for family outings.

The four-door, five-seat Charger does a good job combining a fun-to-drive setup that has all the power needed to get out of – or into – trouble with the utility and comfort of a family sedan.

It’s comfortable … maybe a bit too comfortable

By Jim Leggett

The streets of Mile End are still wet from a brief rainstorm, the brightly coloured signs on St. Laurent Blvd. shine in the puddles. It’s nearly midnight and we’re cruising, looking for a spot to photograph a 2012 Dodge Charger R/T.

There are very few people on the street to hear the quiet rumble that comes from the HEMI under the hood, but that doesn’t matter to us. There’s no need to show off any muscle by making a scene with spinning wheels and smoking tires. There’s a certain confidence in just knowing that there’s 370 horsepower that could be unleashed, we simply choose not to. That’s the Charger attitude.

Design: The roots of the Charger family tree are deep in the heart of NASCAR country. Unlike its muscle car friends and kin, the Charger was conceived to conquer the super-speedways and bring home glory for Chrysler. The Chargers have always been about horsepower and aerodynamics, which meant HEMI engines and big bodies.

Although the Charger is the least like its forefathers among the revival of muscle cars, it still carries the stance and bulk of a heavyweight boxer. The latest version is a revised take with a mix of styling cues from the 1968 to 1970 Chargers in an attempt to reclaim support from baby boomers.

A new crosshair grille motif, all blacked out on our R/T Road and Track Edition, makes for a very aggressive front-end. The hood has twin scallops just like the 1969 Charger while the door (yes there are four doors now instead of the two-door coupes of yore) now bear a sweeping character indent to mimic the old days.

The tail lights may have a similar wide-body shape like the 1970 Charger, but they now consist of a blinding 168 LEDs. The famous flying buttresses that adorned the rear windows of the ’68 to ’70 models are now the smallest vestigial fins, much like the hint of gills on the sides of Camaros. It’s a nod to the past but one only a fan would notice.

The interiors of Chrysler’s muscle cars have never lived up to the same stature as the mechanical masterpieces that resided under the hoods. But times have changed and the cockpit of the Dodge Charger has evolved into a true GT cruiser, full of comfort and technology.

The dash is a concave panel of dark, textured metal evoking the Chargers of the past. Gauges are large and basic but clear and easy to read. An 8.4-inch touch screen delivers all the audio and navigation info.

This being a Road/Track Edition R/T, the sound system gets bumped up from the usual 276 watts to a 506-watt amp and you gain three speakers and a subwoofer for a total of nine as part of the Sound Group ($500).

And for techno geeks, the Driver Confidence Group brings blind spot and cross path detection, rear-view camera, rain-sensitive wipers and power mirrors with courtesy lights ($750). Add the Adaptive Cruise Control Group ($900) for adaptive speed control, forward collision warning and a heated steering wheel.

The seats up front are both heated and ventilated as part of the Customer Preferred Package ($2,000) that brings another 20 options inside and out. The rear seats are fully functional thanks to the four-door access but I still wish the Charger was a two-door coupe.

Our test car had the optional three coats of Pearl Red paint and it simply glowed.

Performance: Yup, it’s got a HEMI all right, the 5.7-litre that is rated at 370 horsepower. Those ponies are sent to the rear wheels only on this model, although there are AWD versions but where’s the fun in that? There’s 400 foot-pounds of tire-spinning torque with the HEMI, it would be a shame to see it housebroken.

Chrysler has the FuelSaver Multi-Displacement System, which can shut off four cylinders when coasting or cruising along on the highway. Fuel consumption estimates are 13.5L/100 km in the city and 8.0L/100 km on the highway, if you refrain from stomping on the HEMI power pedal.

The Charger is still equipped with a five-speed automatic transmission that is getting outdated in the age of six-, seven- and even eight-speeds. The sequential AutoStick is strong enough to easily handle left-foot brake burnouts all day long at the track (ahem), and with the Road/Track option you get a nifty set of paddle shifters.

Driving/utility: The 2012 Dodge Charger R/T Road/Track (isn’t that name redundant?) reminds me of Muhammad Ali in his prime. The body is bulky with muscles just under the skin. There’s a sense of power that could be unleashed in a dazzling fury of movement and noise at the slightest provocation.

The steering has very good feedback of the road without being jarring thanks to the speed-sensitive electro-hydraulics. The big 20-inch chrome-clad aluminum wheels have wide 245/45VR20 performance tires to boost handling capabilities as part of the Super Track Pak option ($500).

The trunk area is enormous with plenty of space for the luggage of your fellow passenger. But is this what we really want from a brand that was known for high performance?

Don’t get me wrong, the 2012 Dodge Charger is a very good car with plenty of value for its $45,145 price tag (base plus options). Maybe, just maybe Dodge will one day grace us with an SRT8 two-door coupe version with minimal technology and maximum performance. Keep the HEMI, preferably the 6.4-litre, and its cylinder management, add the six-speed manual transmission and let’s have some real fun while we can still remember those glory days when muscle roamed the streets.